Compromised Mitochondrial Fatty Acid Synthesis in Transgenic Mice Results in Defective Protein Lipoylation and Energy Disequilibrium

A mouse model with compromised mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis has been engineered in order to assess the role of this pathway in mitochondrial function and overall health. Reduction in the expression of mitochondrial malonyl CoA-acyl carrier protein transacylase, a key enzyme in the pathway encoded by the nuclear Mcat gene, was achieved to varying extents in all examined tissues employing tamoxifen-inducible Cre-lox technology. Although affected mice consumed more food than control animals, they failed to gain weight, were less physically active, suffered from loss of white adipose tissue, reduced muscle strength, kyphosis, alopecia, hypothermia and shortened lifespan. The Mcat-deficient phenotype is attributed primarily to reduced synthesis, in several tissues, of the octanoyl precursors required for the posttranslational lipoylation of pyruvate and a-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complexes, resulting in diminished capacity of the citric acid cycle and disruption of energy metabolism. The presence of an alternative lipoylation pathway that utilizes exogenous free lipoate appears restricted to liver and alone is insufficient for preservation of normal energy metabolism. Thus, de novo synthesis of precursors for the protein lipoylation pathway plays a vital role in maintenance of mitochondrial function and overall vigo

A paralog of a bacteriochlorophyll biosynthesis enzyme catalyzes the formation of 1,2-dihydro-carotenoids in green sulfur bacteria

Chlorobaculum tepidum, a green sulfur bacterium, utilizes chlorobactene as its major carotenoid, and this organism also accumulates a reduced form of this monocyclic pigment, 1',2'-dihydrochlorobactene. The protein catalyzing this reduction is the last unidentified enzyme in the biosynthetic pathways for all of the green sulfur bacterial pigments used for photosynthesis. The genome of Chlorobaculum tepidum contains two paralogous genes encoding members of the FixC family of flavoproteins: bchP, that has been shown to encode an enzyme of bacteriochlorophyll biosynthesis; and bchO, for which a function has not been assigned. Here we demonstrate that a bchO mutant is unable to synthesize 1',2'-dihydrochlorobactene, and when bchO is heterologously expressed in a neurosporene-producing mutant of the purple bacterium, Rhodobactersphaeroides, the encoded protein is able to catalyze the formation of 1,2-dihydroneurosporene, the major carotenoid of the only other organism reported to synthesize 1,2-dihydrocarotenoids, Blastochloris viridis Identification of this enzyme completes the pathways for the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments in Chlorobiaceae, and accordingly and consistent with its role in carotenoid biosynthesis, we propose to rename the gene, cruI Notably, the absence of cruI in Blastochloris viridis indicates that a second 1,2-carotenoid reductase, which is structurally unrelated to CruI (BchO), must exist in nature. The evolution of this carotenoid reductase in green sulfur bacteria is discussed herein

Olive Trees and Cyborgs - Christian Identity in Paul\u27s Letter to the Romans

These classes examine how Paul addresses the competing concepts of identity at work within the Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome, and asks how Paul\u27s vision of Christian identity applies to us today

Olive Trees and Cyborgs - Our Christian Identities Here and Now

These classes examine how Paul addresses the competing concepts of identity at work within the Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome, and asks how Paul\u27s vision of Christian identity applies to us today

Olive Trees and Cyborgs - The Source of Christian Identity in Paul\u27s Letter to the Romans

These classes examine how Paul addresses the competing concepts of identity at work within the Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome, and asks how Paul\u27s vision of Christian identity applies to us today

Bound in the Spiral Dance: Spirituality and Technology in the Third Wave

Book description: Many of the available resources for teaching courses on feminist spirituality either come from the 1980s to 1990s or are written by the same authors as those earlier texts, thus showing us a progression of spiritual beliefs and practices of \u27second-wave\u27 feminists. This is useful, but when addressing this topic with university students it is also important to show the ways in which spirituality has been rethought by \u27third-wave\u27 feminists. This rethinking can be found in various small circulation \u27zines, but these are not always accessible to a wide audience. This anthology addresses the experiences of third-wave feminists in the construction and reformulation of spirituality. It examines the experiences of young feminists and others who have been influenced by second-wave feminist spirituality and engaged in developing and critiquing themes of Goddess religion, queer theory, protest movements, and popular culture